15 Common Names Of Wildflowers In Singapore

Singapore is well known for its stunning cityscapes, but a closer look reveals a surprising variety of wildflowers thriving in our parks, along pathways, and in green spaces. These humble blooms add pops of colour and natural charm to our urban environment. 

This guide will help you identify some of the most common wildflowers you might encounter on your daily travels. By learning their names and appreciating their simple beauty, we can find inspiration for bringing a touch of nature's elegance into our own homes through beautifully arranged flowers.

The Abundant Wildflowers of Our Garden City

As Singapore continues its journey to become a "City in Nature," our island has become a sanctuary for incredible biodiversity. This vision allows for the flourishing of many plant species, including a host of wildflowers. Some of these are native plants that have grown here for centuries, while others are naturalised species that have adapted perfectly to our tropical climate.

These flowers are more than just pretty sights; they play a crucial role in the urban ecosystem. They provide food for pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the health of our green spaces. Taking a moment to notice these resilient plants can be a source of simple joy. Appreciating the untamed beauty of a wildflower can inspire us to bring that same feeling of natural elegance indoors with a curated bouquet of fresh flowers.

15 Common Wildflowers You Can Find in Singapore

1. Simpoh Air (Dillenia suffruticosa)

Simpoh Air is one of Singapore’s most recognisable native flowers. It features large, bright yellow petals that open up to about 10 centimetres wide, creating a cheerful display. Its leaves are just as impressive, being large and textured with distinctive parallel veins. 

This hardy plant blooms continuously, meaning you can almost always spot its sunny flowers when you are out and about. Often seen in nature reserves and along the edges of parks, the Simpoh Air’s bold yet simple beauty makes it a standout. A single stem in a modern vase can make a striking statement, echoing its natural elegance.

2. Coat Buttons (Tridax procumbens)

You have almost certainly seen Coat Buttons, even if you did not know their name. These small, resilient flowers are a very common sight along roadsides, in fields, and peeking through pavements. They have a classic daisy-like appearance, with creamy white or pale yellow petals surrounding a bright yellow centre. 

Coat Buttons are a symbol of unassuming charm and resilience, thriving in various conditions. Their cheerful and rustic look brings a touch of countryside grace to the urban landscape. They remind us that beauty can be found in the simplest and most common things around us.

3. Touch-Me-Not (Mimosa pudica)

The Touch-Me-Not plant is a source of wonder for both children and adults. It is famous for its fascinating reaction to touch, where its fern-like leaves quickly fold inwards. Beyond this unique feature, the plant produces delicate and charming flowers. 

These blooms are like fluffy pink or pale lilac pom-poms, adding a soft and whimsical touch wherever they grow. Finding a patch of Touch-Me-Nots can evoke a sense of nostalgia and gentle fun. The flower’s delicate structure serves as a beautiful lesson in gentle elegance, showing that even the most sensitive plants have a unique beauty.

4. Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum)

Despite its name, the Singapore Rhododendron is not a true rhododendron but is a beautiful native plant. It produces striking flowers with five vibrant, pinkish-purple petals and distinctive yellow stamens. This plant is a common sight in our nature reserves, like Bukit Timah, and adds a splash of rich colour to the surrounding greenery. 

The vivid hue of its flowers makes it a natural focal point. Its beauty is a wonderful example of how a single, strong colour can capture attention, a principle often used by florists when creating a stunning bouquet with a central, eye-catching flower.

5. Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana is a highly visible wildflower, known for its beautiful clusters of small, colourful blooms. Each flower head is a dense bouquet of tiny blossoms that can be yellow, orange, pink, or red, often with multiple colours on the same cluster. 

This plant thrives in sunny areas and is frequently seen in parks and gardens across Singapore. The multi-tonal appearance of Lantana flowers provides wonderful inspiration for creating vibrant and colourful mixed floral arrangements. Its ability to showcase so many warm colours in one small bunch is a testament to nature’s artistry.

6. Yellow Creeping Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata)

The Yellow Creeping Daisy is a cheerful, low-growing plant that often forms a dense green carpet punctuated by bright yellow flowers. Also known as the Singapore Daisy, its blooms are sunny and inviting, instantly brightening up any space they occupy. It is commonly found in areas like Coney Island and along the green verges of our park connectors. 

The flower’s sunny disposition is infectious, making it a delightful sight. It serves as a perfect reminder of how yellow flowers can bring warmth and happiness into a space, much like a fresh bouquet on a living room table.

7. Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica)

The Chinese Violet, also known as the Creeping Foxglove, is a delicate and lovely wildflower. Its trumpet-shaped blooms are typically white or pale lavender, often with attractive purple markings inside the throat that guide pollinators. 

This fast-growing plant is often found weaving through hedges and climbing over fences, adding a touch of understated elegance to the landscape. Its subtle colouring and graceful shape give it a refined beauty. This flower is a perfect example of how minimalist charm can be just as impactful as bolder blooms, making it a source of inspiration for a more classic and simple decor style.

8. Ixora (Ixora javanica)

While often used in landscaping, Ixora also grows wild and is a familiar sight throughout Singapore. It is best known for its large, dense, circular clusters of small flowers. These flower heads, or corymbs, come in brilliant shades of red, orange, and pink, creating a powerful visual impact. 

Each cluster is like a perfectly formed, natural posy. The lush, full appearance of Ixora flower heads is very similar to the rounded, bountiful look of professionally crafted bouquets, showing how nature often creates the most beautiful designs.

9. Beggar's Tick (Bidens pilosa)

Beggar's Tick is a common wildflower with a simple and classic beauty. It features small flowers with clean white petals that surround a sunny yellow centre. While the flowers are lovely, the plant is perhaps more famous for its distinctive seeds that easily latch onto clothing, which is how it got its name. Found in open fields and along pathways, its unassuming charm is a reminder of the beauty in simplicity. It represents the effortless grace found in nature, where even the most common weeds can produce a flower of perfect form.

10. Love-in-a-Mist (Passiflora foetida)

The flower of the Love-in-a-Mist, or Stinking Passionflower, is truly a work of art. It is an incredibly intricate and exotic-looking bloom with white petals and a stunning corona of purple-and-white filaments that form a delicate fringe. 

This wildflower is a captivating find, showcasing a level of complexity that is mesmerising. The complex, layered structure of the passionflower draws a wonderful parallel to the skill and artistry involved in high-end floral design, where every element is carefully placed to create a breathtaking whole.

11. Cupid's Shaving Brush (Emilia sonchifolia)

Cupid's Shaving Brush is a wildflower with a whimsical name and an equally charming appearance. It grows on a long, slender stem and produces small, tassel-like flower heads without any prominent petals. These tufted blooms appear in soft shades of pink, purple, or red. 

It is a common sight in lawns and open fields, adding a delicate pop of colour to the green canvas. Its dainty and playful look can bring a smile to your face, reminding us of the subtle and delightful surprises that nature has to offer.

12. Water Willow (Justicia procumbens)

The Water Willow produces small but beautifully detailed flowers. These blooms are typically white or light pink to purple and feature intricate, darker purple markings on the petals, almost like they have been painted on. You can spot this low-growing plant in grasslands and along roadsides, often in damper spots. 

A closer look at the Water Willow reveals the incredible detail that can be found in even the tiniest of flowers. It shows that beauty is often in the small details, a principle that applies just as well to a finely crafted floral arrangement.

13. Sea Hibiscus (Talipariti tiliaceum)

A native coastal plant, the Sea Hibiscus produces large, stunning flowers that undergo a beautiful transformation. The flowers start as a bright, cheerful yellow in the morning and gradually turn to a deep reddish-orange by the afternoon before they fall. 

Found in coastal parks and wetlands like Sungei Buloh, this flower offers a different kind of beauty throughout the day. This changing colour tells a story, much like a bouquet of flowers that slowly opens and evolves over several days, revealing new layers of beauty each day.

14. Blue Spiderwort (Commelina diffusa)

Finding a true blue flower in nature can be a special treat, and the Blue Spiderwort is a perfect example. This delicate wildflower has three vibrant blue petals that are almost translucent. The flowers are quite fragile and typically only last for a day, making them a fleeting but beautiful sight. 

They can be spotted in damp, shady areas, often growing as a weed in gardens and parks. The rarity and allure of its true blue colour make it a special find, reminding us of how certain shades in a bouquet can be particularly precious and eye-catching.

15. Townsville Stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

Townsville Stylo is a small but hardy wildflower that adds a warm touch to its surroundings. It produces dainty, pea-shaped flowers in a lovely shade of yellow or light orange. This plant is often found growing in open ground and along roadsides where other plants might struggle. 

Its sunny colour and delicate form bring a subtle warmth and cheerfulness to the landscape. It serves as a good example of how small accent flowers can be used in a larger arrangement to add texture, warmth, and hints of gentle colour.

Appreciating Wild Beauty in Your Home

Observing the diverse wildflowers of Singapore can awaken a deeper appreciation for the natural world around us. The different colours, unique shapes, and varied textures we see in nature can serve as wonderful inspiration for our home decor and personal style. It helps us understand what kinds of aesthetics we find most beautiful.

While it is important to leave these wildflowers in their natural habitat to preserve our city's ecosystem, you can still bring their beauty into your life. The untamed, natural aesthetic of a wildflower field can be captured in a thoughtfully chosen bouquet. A professional florist can use a variety of cultivated blooms to create a stunning "wildflower look," giving you a long-lasting and artistic arrangement that brings the charm of the outdoors into a flower vase.

Conclusion On Types of Wildflowers with Names

In conclusion, Singapore is home to a rich and beautiful variety of wildflowers, each with its own unique charm. These resilient blooms are a vital part of our City in Nature, adding colour and life to our urban environment. 

We should admire them in their natural habitats, appreciating the small wonders they bring to our daily lives. This appreciation for wild, natural beauty can easily translate into the joy of having curated floral arrangements at home. A well-designed bouquet can capture the spirit of these wildflowers, allowing you to enjoy their elegance every day.

If you have any questions or wish to order a beautiful bouquet inspired by nature's charm, please contact us. To find beautiful flowers and bouquets for any occasion, visit Singapore Florist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Wildflowers with Names

What Are The Wild Flowers In Singapore?

Singapore has many wild flowers, both native and naturalised. Some of the most common ones you can see include the yellow Simpoh Air, the daisy-like Coat Buttons, the purple Singapore Rhododendron, and the unique pink pom-poms of the Touch-Me-Not plant.

What Is The Most Common Flower In Singapore?

While the Bougainvillea is the most common flowering plant used in landscaping, one of the most widespread wildflowers is likely the Coat Buttons (Tridax procumbens). It is very resilient and can be found in abundance along roadsides, in parks, and in open fields across the island.

What Are 5 Native Plants In Singapore?

Five beautiful native flowering plants you can find in Singapore are the Simpoh Air (Dillenia suffruticosa), Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum), Sea Hibiscus (Talipariti tiliaceum), Ixora (Ixora javanica), and the Love-in-a-Mist (Passiflora foetida).

What Is The Name Of The Wild Purple Flower?

A common wild purple flower in Singapore is the Singapore Rhododendron (Melastoma malabathricum). It has large, vibrant pinkish-purple petals. Another is the Chinese Violet (Asystasia gangetica), which has delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers with purple markings.

Where Can I See Wildflowers In Singapore?

You can see wildflowers almost everywhere in Singapore. For a wide variety, visit nature reserves like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Parks such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, and Coney Island are also excellent places to spot them.

What Is The Name Of The Wild Yellow Flower?

There are several common wild yellow flowers in Singapore. One of the most prominent is the Simpoh Air (Dillenia suffruticosa) with its large, bright yellow petals. Another very common one is the Yellow Creeping Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata), which often forms a sunny groundcover.